Library of Congress photo (LC-DIG-cwpbh-00805)

August V. Kautz became a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy in
1848. Upon graduation, in July of 1852, he was brevet a second
lieutenant in the Fourth U.S Infantry and in March of 1853 was
promoted 2nd lieutenant. He was part of the forces that took part
in the Rogue River expedition in 1855 and while on that campaign,
in October, 1855, he was wounded. In December of 1855, he was
promoted to first lieutenant. He took place in a scouting expedition
against Puget Sound Indians, Washington Territory, and was
wounded during a fight at White River. He was acting quarter-
master to the Northeast Boundary Commission in 1858 and early
1859. In 1859 and 1860 he took a leave of absence and went to
Europe.

In May of 1861, at the start of the Civil War, Kautz was promoted
to Captain and assigned to the Sixth Cavalry. In September he was
promoted to Colonel, 2nd Ohio Cavalry. In 1862, he was engaged
in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Mechanicsville,
Hanover Court House, and Malvern Hill. He was in the Army of
the Ohio in 1863 and early 1864, during which time he participated
in the capture of Monticello, Kentucky and the pursuit and capture
of John Morgan and his rebel raiders. In August of 1863, Kautz
was made Chief of Cavalry, 23rd Army Corps. He was in the East Tennessee campaign, including the siege of Knoxville.
In 1864 he was placed in command of the Cavalry Division of the Army of the James. Kautz was brevet major (U.S.
Army) in June of 1863 for gallant and meritorious services in action at Monticello. In May, 1864, he was engaged in
cutting the lines of the Petersburg and Weldon railroad, the Richmond and Danville railroad, and the Petersburge and
Lynchburg railroad. In June of 1864, Kautz was promoted to brigadier general, United States Volunteers, and was
brevet lieutenant colonel, United States Army. In June he was also engaged in the assault on Confederate
entrenchments protecting Petersburg and later, in theactions at Roanoke Bridge and Reams' Station. He was in the
action at Darbytown, Virginia for which he was brevet Colonel for gallant and meritorious services on the Darbytown
Road. Kautz was in the repulse of Confederate forces north of the James River in December, 1864.  In March, 1865,
Kautz was brevet brigadier general and brevet major general, United States Army, for meritorious services in the field
during the Rebellion and in April, 1865, he was engaged in the occupation of Richmond, Virginia and was brevet Major
General, United States Volunteers.

In May, 1865, Kautz was a member of the Military Commission for the trial of the assassins of President Lincoln. He
was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, 34th Infantry in July of 1866 and was transferred to the 15th Infantry in March
of 1869.

August V. Kautz is the author of the

Company Clerk

,

,

Customs of Service for Non-commissioned Officers and

Soldiers

Customs of Service for Officers of the Army